Removable straightening tool



w. R. KEI-:VER Re. 20,398

June 8,l 193 7.

REMOVABLE S TRAIGHTENI NG TOOL Original Filed Nov. 6, 1934 AggwhwATTRNEYS '5 well.

Reissued June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES REMOVABLE STRAIGHTENING TOOL Williamlt. Keever, Sulphur Mine, La., assigner to The Union Sulphur Company, acorporation of New Jersey Original No. 2,065,896, dated December 29,1936,

Serial No. 751,688, November 6, 1934.

Application for reissue February 16, 1937, Serial No.

9 Claims.

My invention relates to rotary earth drilling and more particularly to adevice used in changing the direction of the bore of the well beingdrilled.

In rotary drilling it is sometimes desirable to change the direction inwhich the hole is being drilled; for example, an intended vertical holeactually may be being bored at an angle, and it becomes necessary-tochange the direction of bore of the hole to its original verticaldirection. In some cases when drilling a normally vertical hole, it maybe desirable to have the hole proceed at an Aangle to the vertical axisto avoid certain formations or to lead to other formations.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a device which may beused in changing the direction of bore of a well. I I

Another object of my invention is the con struction ofv a tool which maybe removed easily with the drill after the hole has been given its newdirection.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a device of suchconstruction that after its use no side or rat holes will be left in theA further object of my invention is the construction of a device whichpermits the drill to be subsequently raised without binding against andforming a wedge with the side of the tool, thus making diiilcult itsremoval.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a device in which thetool can be accurately and securely placed in a desired orientedposition with reference to the new direction the hole is to take, andthen freed from the drilling member and pipe to permit the lattertofunction independently and without disturbing the position of thetool.

Anotherv object of my invention is the provision of a tool which can berotated by the drill pipe at any time desired in order to secure itsremoval from the well in the event that the formations are of a typewhich tend to cause sticking of the tools in the hole.

A further object of my invention is the construction of a device inwhich the drill bit and connected mechanism are housed and protected bythe tool as the device is being placed in and removed from the well.

Stiil another object of my invention is to construct a device that maybe rapidly assembled or dismantled, facilitating the replacement of wornor damaged parts.

My invention has other objects and the device (Cl. Z55-,1)

has other advantages and includes other features of novelty in additionto those above mentioned as will be apparent from consideration of theaccompanying drawing forming a part of the specication, and in which:

Figure 1 is a digram showing a well that has been given a new directionby my novel device.

Figure 2 is a view showing my novel device being used for straighteninga hole.

Figure 3 is a view of the Outside of the device.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing. a broken vertical section with anintermediate portion of the device omitted.

Figure 5 is a section taken along line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 in a section taken along Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a section taken along VII-VII of Figure 4.

YI-VI of Referring more particularly tothe drawing,

the'device includes a tool which has a main body 2. This body may beeither hollow or solid and is provided with a guiding surface or channel2a, that functions to guide the tool Iin the formation of the new hole.In a vertical direc-v tion* this channeled surface is straight andcontinuous and is in the same straight axis as the drill pipe I abovethe tool. The .upper portion of the tool, as shown in Figure 6, iscylindrical in shape and comprises a long sleeve I which houses thedrilling` bit 5 and the mechanism which is employed in placing andremoving the device from the hole. The inner surface of the sleeve is acontinuation of the surface 2a. The

sleeve is cut away at 2b so that the channel 2a' is ilanked on each sideby protruding metal ridges 2c that serve in guiding the drill bit in itsproper course. The outer side of the bodv is a tapering surface 2d whichcauses the bit I to be deflected as it moves downwardly. The bottom ofthe tool is provided with a point 2e for Ause in placing and securing itin the formation in the well. This portion 2 of the device is generallyknown as a whipstock. v

A lcollar 6 is threaded on the top of the sleeve 4 and a bushing 'l isthreaiied into the upper portion of the collar. If it is desired, thecollar ing l has a. clutch face 'lb formed on its down- 'ward side.

The drill bit 5 may be of any type desired and is secured in a drillcollar 8. Threaded into the 5 top of the drill collar at 8a is the drillpipe 3. 'I'he drill bit 5 and drill collar l may be moved verticallywith the pipe 3. On the upper surface of 'the drill collar 8 is formed aclutch face 8b which is adapted to seat against and cooperate with theclutch face lb' of the bushing 1 when the drill pipe and collar areraised.

A shear pin (or pins) 9 passes through the collar 6 and into the drillcollar 8. This pin secures the tool 2 to the drill pipe so that therewill be no relative movement between them as the device is being loweredand correctly oriented in the hole. The strength of this pin 9 issufficient to hold the tool 2 in fixed position permitting the properplacing of the tool in the hole and yet shear upon the imposing ofadditional weight of the drill pipe, so that thereafter the drill pipeand bit may move independently of the tool 2 which remains fixed in itsoriented position.

When the device isto be used, the parts are.

assembledvby attaching the collar i to the bushing l'l and the sleeve l,the shear pin 9. holding the tool 2 in a fixed position relative to thepipe as shown in Fig. 4. 'Ihe assembly`can be rapidly made on the drillfloor or the apparatus can bequickly dismantled for the replacementofworn parts. No welding operation is necessary. The assembled device islowered into the hole and the tool is then-correctly oriented withrefer- 5 ence tothe new direction the hole is to take.'

The point 2e is secured in the formation to prevent movement of the toolduring.' subsequent drilling.V When additional weight i's placed on thedrill pipel, the pin 9 shears and the' drill pipe 40 I, drill collar land bit 5 are free from the tool. The pipe 3 and bit 5 are then rotatedin the customary 'manner while the tool 2 remains stationa'ry. .As 4thedrill pipe 3 is rotated, it moves down through the opening 'Ia andforces the bit 9 along the channel 2a. The side walls 2c give the bitdirection to prevent sliding off .to either side. Ihe increasing outerthicknessof .the tool 2 at its lower end, as indicated at 2d, acts toforce the bit against the opposite side wall of the hole and thus startsthe rotary bit boring in a new direction. .By the time the drill hasreached the lower 'end of my whipstock 2, as lshown in Figure 2, thewellwill have been given a definite new direction anddrilling may becontinue or the lwhipstoclr 2 may be. removed before c ntinuing. v

VYhen it isv desired to remove .the bit 5 or whipstock 2.. the drillpipe l is raised and the bit 5 recedes into the sleeve I. The clutchface 1b .o0 engages the clutch face 8b and as the drill pipe 3 isfurther raised, the tool 2 will be lifted along with the pipe. p Shouldthe tool stick in` the formation, the -drill pipe l may be rotated andthrough the clutch faces the rotation impartedto the tool4 2."Such-rotational or twisting movement will assist in freeing the toolfrom the engaging or sticking formations.

It-is desirable to use a shear pin 9 which is sumciently strong topermit the vwhipstock to be placed in proper position without shearingand vet which is not of such strength that the whipstock will be`disturbed'once .it is positioned by -the operation'of shearing the pinto permit ro- .tation of the` blt 5: However, should. the pin 9 1 76be'sheared before the tool is finally positioned, n

it will benoted that control over the whipstock is not entirely lost forby raising the drill stem 3 slightly, the clutch faces Ib and ab can bebrought together and the whipstock thus rotated to the desired position.

By providing the inside of my whipstock with a vertical surface andplacing the taper on the outer surface. -I amenabled to provide sidewalls 2c throughout the effective length of the whipstock. As a resultthe'channel 2a is substantially uniform throughout the effective lengthof the whipstock and the side walls 2c act to control the direction ofthe bit throughout the time the new direction is being imparted to thewell.

By making the inside of my whipstock 2 in line or parallel with .thevertical axis of the lower portion of the drill pipe and continuing thisstraight surface all the way to the bottom of the tool, the newcorrected bore will begin at the very bottom of the old hole and thusthe p same hole will continue in the new direction. No

new hole will be formed and thus no rat holes are left in the side wallsof the well which would tend to engage the tools that arebeing loweredinto the hole, and `misdirect them into the end of the original rejectedhole.

The inner face of the channel 2a being nontapering, I also avoid. anywedging action of the bit against the inner face. 'of the tool 2. If theinner face were tapered, there would be a certain undue amount offriction between the bit and the tool. If the bit were raised it wouldtend to raise the tool 2 along with the blt thus forming a wedge betweenthe bit and the. well wall which would prevent 'further upward movement.-The vertical face 2a parallel with the axis, however, decreases thefriction so that the undesirable wedging action will n'ot take place.When using 'the device to straighten a; well, the nontapering surface 2aalso prevents vthe drill pipe from binding or bending as would be thecase if the inner face of the tool were tapered. In-my de'- vice thepipe remains in a substantially straight In a device in whichthe tool issecured to the vr11-n1', a dimculty sometimes arises in that the drillbecomes worn and must be replaced be-- fore' the hole is. nished. Inthis event the tool' the following claims.

I claim:

1. A drilling device including a drill member for forminga. bore, amember acting to change the direction ofthe drilling member, frangiblemeans positively connecting said'drilling member and said direction'changing member to pre'- vent relative rotation therebetween in'l orderthat the direction changing member may be accurately positioned in thebore, said-connection being adapted to be brokenbefore the direction ofthe bore is changed, and clutch means for .connecting said members priorto their removal of' changed.

the bore after the direction of the bore has been 2. A drilling meansincluding a drilling member, means acting to change the direction of thedrilling member, a shear pin connecting them and adapted to be broken,and a clutch means for interconnecting them when the drilling member israised.

3. A drilling means comprising a drill pipe, a drill collar secured tothe end thereof, a drill bit secured in said drill collar, a clutch faceformed on the upper surface of said drill collar, a tool adapted tochange the direction of said drilling means, a connecting collar securedto said tool, a shear pin securing said connecting collar to said drillcollar, a bushing with an opening therein secured in said connectingcollar, said drill pipe passing through said opening, and a clutch faceformed on the bottom surface of said bushing.

4. A drilling means comprising a drill pipe, a drill collar secured tothe end thereof, a drill bit secured in said drill collar, a clutch faceformed on the upper surface of said drill collar, a tool adapted tochange the direction of said drilling means, a connecting collar securedto said tool, a shear pin securing said connecting collar to said drillcollar, a bushing with an opening therein secured in said connectingcollar, said drill pipe passing through said opening, a clutch faceformed on the bottom of said bushing, said body member being formed witha curved inner channel that is in the same vertical axis as the drillpipe and a tapering outer surface that is at an angle to the verticalaxis of the drill pipe. f

5. A drilling means comprising a' drill pipe, a drill collar secured tothe end thereof, a drill bit secured in said drill collar, na clutchface formed on the upper surface of said drill collar, a tool adapted tochange the direction of said drilling means, a connecting collar securedto said tool, a shear pin securing said connecting collar to said drillcollar, a bushing with an opening therein secured in saidconnectingcollar, said drill pipe passing through said opening, a clutchface formed on the bottom of said bushing, said body member being formedwith a curved inner channel that is ln the same vertical axis as thedrill pipe and is substantially uniform throughout its length, and atapering outer surface that is at an angle to the vertical axis of thedrill pipe.

6. A drilling means for changing the direction of a well comprising adrill pipe, a drill secured to the end thereof, a tool adapted to becontacted by said drill to change the direction of said drill, a shearpin connecting said drill to said tool whereby movement of said drillpipe may be imparted to said tool to orient the same, said shear pinbeing adapted to be broken after orientation of said tool, clutch meansinterconnecting said drill and said tool whereby longitudinal androtational movement of said drill stem may be imparted to said tool toremove the same after a drilling operation, said tool having a taperingouter surface and a straight inner surface comprising a channellaterally curved to form side walls which extend throughout the lengthof said inner surface, whereby said drill is confined in directionthroughout its travel in contact with said tool.

7. A drilling means for changing the direction of a well comprising adrill pipe, a drill secured to the end thereof, a tool adapted to becontacted by said drill to change' the direction of the drill, a shearpin connecting said drill to said tool whereby movement of said drillpipe may be imparted to said tool to orient the same, said shear pinbeing adapted to be broken after orientation of said tool, said toolhaving a tapering outer surface and a straight inner surface comprisinga channel laterally curved to form side walls which extend throughoutthe length of said inner surface, whereby said drill is coniined indirection throughout its travel in contact with said tool.

8. In combination, a drill, and a whipstock for changing the directionof said drill, said whipstock comprising means for holding it in anearth formation, a curved inner surface having a straight vertical axisand an outer tapering surface, said drill being adapted to rotateagainst said inner surface as it moves downward during the drillingoperation, said inner surface comprising a channel extending throughoutthe length of said inner surface and including side walls for coniiningvsaid bit in said channel throughout` the length of its travel againstsaid inner surface.

9. A whipstock for changing the direction in' which a well is beingdrilled and adapted to be held securely in an earth formation duringsaid drilling, comprising an inner surface for directingand guiding adrill in the new direction and an outer surface at an angle to saidinner surface, said inner surface being substantially uniform throughoutits length and comprising a curved channel having side guides extendingthroughout the length of said channel.

WILLIAM R. KEEVER.

